Adam Smith

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest."  
        - Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations

We are so often forgetful that our good is wrapped up in the good of the society as a whole.  A society regulated by the willing purchase of quality products, served by the servants who made them.  It is in each of our interest that the best possible products or services be offered at a price that people are willing to pay.  This is the heart of a free market system, requiring limited governmental regulation.  It works when people practice discernment.  It works when people are trustworthy.  It works when people work to feed themselves, using the two hands God gave them.

It doesn't work when people are lazy or untrustworthy.  It doesn't work when the government is no longer limited.  It doesn't work when people are not responsible to practice discernment.  It doesn't work when companies who made bad choices (yet are large contributors to campaigns) are considered, "Too big to fail."

Unfortunately, the overreaching of the federal government in recent years has promoted moral hazards.  Now businesses and individuals have the temptation to continue in immoral actions, because it is likely that they may not be held to account for their actions.  For example Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were bailed out by the government because they were too big to fail.  The individuals who agreed to mortgages, well beyond what was reasonable, have been allowed to walk away or practice in governmental encouraged refinances.  In this one example we see that the wrong behavior is being promoted corporately and individually and the consequences will have long reaching results.  This is what happens when we look to government to regulate every aspect of the market system.

What good it would do for us to go back and learn to think once again!  Think of serving others, trusting this will serve us well.  Think of the ramifications of my own actions to myself and to others.  Think long term.